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Our Top CV Tips

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Venturing out into today’s job market, where there are fewer jobs and more competition, you want to make sure the odds are in your favour. To do this you need a top-notch updated CV that’s thorough and showcases your skills in under 30-60 seconds. The most important sections of your CV must include:

Your Personal Details & Career Objective/Summary
This is the first part a Recruiter will see when they open your CV. Introduce yourself to the person who’s doing the hiring. Start off by giving a brief description of your expertise and career goals.

Your Education History
Even if you do not have a tertiary qualification (just Matric) you are still required to complete this field. Start by listing recent qualifications:

Title of qualification

Where you studied

Date of completion

Skills & final grades

If you are currently studying, include it. Just make sure that you mention the completion date. So, you don’t have a tertiary qualification, now what? A lot of people are unable to study after high school but there are other ways to get training and job skills through many institutions and online sources.

Your Work Experience
Your work experience will have a big influence on whether you make it to the next stage or not, depending on the type of job you are applying for. Start off by listing your most recent work experience:

Your full job title

Company you worked for

Your start and finish dates

Your salary/cost-to-company

A brief summary of duties

Achievements (if any)

Notice period

Reason for leaving

If you have little to no work experience, bulk up your CV by giving more details about your studies. You can also highlight the skills you’ve learned and explain how they can help you in your next job.

Do you volunteer, participated in a job-shadowing programme, work part-time or freelance for a friend? Add that to your work experience too. Your CV is an opportunity to grab the attention of a Recruiter, so why not make the most of it the first time around.